Superseded Documentation (Introduction)

This edition of the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data supersedes the most recent editions of the USMARC Format for Authority Data and the Canadian MARC Communication Format: Authorities. It includes changes resulting from proposals which were considered by the ALA ALCTS/LITA/RASD Machine-Readable Bibliographic Information Committee (MARBI) at its meetings from 1998 through June 1999 and by the Canadian Committee on MARC (CCM) at its meetings from 1998 through June 1999. With alignment of these formats in 1997, a single edition of the format could be issued.

USMARC Documentation:

MARC 21 supersedes the 1993 edition of USMARC Format for Authority Data: Including Guidelines for Content Designation and updates No. 1 (July 1995) and No. 2 (March 1997) to that edition. With Update No. 2, the USMARC and CAN/MARC formats were identical format specifications. The 1993 edition superseded the 1987 edition of the format and its four updates published between 1988 and 1991. The 1987 edition incorporated the base text of the 1976 edition and subsequent updates published under the title Authorities: A MARC Format.

CAN/MARC Documentation:

MARC 21 supersedes the 1988 edition of Canadian MARC Communication Format: Authorities.

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Introduction to the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data